Key Takeaways
- The law of attraction teaches that like attracts like through vibrational frequency, while the law of assumption holds that your assumptions about reality shape what you experience regardless of external vibration.
- The law of attraction, popularized by Abraham Hicks and "The Secret," focuses on emotional alignment, positive thinking, and raising your vibration to match your desires.
- The law of assumption, rooted in the teachings of Neville Goddard, centers on assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled and persisting in that inner state until the outer world conforms.
- Both methods use visualization and feeling as primary tools, but they differ in how they explain why manifestation works and what role the external world plays in the process.
- You do not need to pick just one method. Many practitioners combine elements of both systems, using vibrational awareness from the law of attraction alongside the inner-state persistence taught by the law of assumption.
The law of attraction vs law of assumption debate has become one of the most discussed topics in the manifestation community. Both systems promise that you can create your desired reality through the power of your mind. Both have passionate followers who report real results. And both draw on overlapping techniques like visualization, affirmations, and emotional engagement.
Yet despite their surface similarities, these two approaches rest on different foundations. The law of attraction says you must become a vibrational match to what you want. The law of assumption says you must simply assume that you already have it. That distinction may sound subtle, but in daily practice, it changes everything from how you handle doubt to how you interpret the world around you.
In this guide, we will break down both systems, compare their core principles, and help you decide which one fits your personality and goals.
What Is the Law of Attraction?
The law of attraction is the idea that your thoughts, feelings, and beliefs emit a vibrational frequency, and the universe responds by bringing you experiences that match that frequency. Think positive, feel good, maintain high vibrations, and positive outcomes flow toward you. Think negative, focus on fear, dwell in low-frequency emotions, and you attract more of the same.
The concept has roots in the New Thought movement of the 19th century and authors like Wallace Wattles and Napoleon Hill. The version most people know today was shaped by Esther and Jerry Hicks (channeling Abraham) and the 2006 film "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne.
Core Principles of the Law of Attraction
Like attracts like. Your dominant vibrational frequency draws matching experiences. If you spend most of your time feeling grateful and abundant, you attract circumstances that reinforce gratitude and abundance. If you spend most of your time worrying about bills, you attract more financial stress.
Ask, believe, receive. This three-step process is the simplified formula taught in "The Secret." You ask the universe for what you want (clarity), you believe it is on its way (faith), and you open yourself to receive it (allowing). The gap between asking and receiving is where most people struggle, because doubt and impatience creep in.
The emotional guidance system. Abraham Hicks teaches that your emotions are a built-in navigation system. Positive emotions mean you are aligned with your desires. Negative emotions mean you are moving away from them. Your job is to reach for the best-feeling thought available in any given moment. Many people who explore emotional awareness through the law of attraction also discover they are empaths, absorbing the feelings of people around them.
Vibrational alignment. Before your desire can manifest, you must become a vibrational match to it. This means feeling as you would feel if you already had what you want. Keeping a manifestation journal is one of the most effective ways to train yourself into this feeling state daily.
The Law of Attraction in Practice
A typical practice includes daily affirmations, visualization sessions, gratitude journaling, vision boards, and meditation. The emphasis is always on feeling good. Practitioners monitor their emotional state throughout the day and use techniques like "pivoting" (shifting from a negative thought to a better-feeling one) to maintain alignment. The strength of this approach is its accessibility and its tendency to improve general well-being immediately.
What Is the Law of Assumption?
The law of assumption, as taught by Neville Goddard (1905-1972), states that your assumptions about reality are what create your experience. Whatever you assume to be true, your world will reflect back to you. You do not need to raise your vibration or ask an external universe for permission. You simply need to assume the state of the person who already has what you desire, and persist in that assumption until the physical world catches up.
Neville was a Barbadian-American mystic and lecturer who interpreted Biblical scripture as psychological allegory rather than literal history. His core teaching can be summed up in one sentence: "Assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled."
Core Principles of the Law of Assumption
Consciousness is the only reality. For Neville, the external world is a mirror of your inner state. There is no universe "out there" delivering things to you. There is only your consciousness, projecting outward. Everything you see, experience, and encounter is a reflection of what you have assumed to be true about yourself and your world.
Everyone is you pushed out. Other people in your experience reflect your own beliefs and assumptions. If you assume people are kind and supportive, your interactions will reflect that. If you assume the world is hostile, it will show up that way. Your experience of others is filtered through your assumptions.
Persist in the assumption. You do not need the outer world to confirm your new assumption. The old reality may persist for a while after you change your inner state. Your job is to hold the new assumption regardless of what your physical senses are telling you. Neville called this "living in the end."
Imagination creates reality. Neville taught that your imagination is not an escape from reality but the engine that builds it. When you vividly imagine a scene implying your wish is fulfilled, you plant a seed in your subconscious that must eventually harden into fact. People naturally drawn to inner work often find they have strong spiritual gifts that support this kind of practice.
The Law of Assumption in Practice
Neville's primary technique is called SATS (State Akin To Sleep). Before falling asleep, when your subconscious is most receptive, you create a short mental scene implying your wish has been fulfilled. You loop this scene repeatedly until you fall asleep inside the feeling of the wish fulfilled.
Other techniques include revision (mentally rewriting events to match your desired reality), affirmations in present or past tense ("I am so happy that..." or "Isn't it wonderful that..."), and the "I remember when" technique, where you speak about your current unwanted situation as though it is already in the past. The law of assumption places less emphasis on feeling happy at all times. The inner knowing matters more than surface emotion.
Law of Attraction vs Law of Assumption: A Direct Comparison
Now that you understand each system individually, let us place them side by side to see exactly where they align and where they diverge.
| Dimension | Law of Attraction | Law of Assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Origin / Key Teacher | New Thought movement, Abraham Hicks, Rhonda Byrne | Neville Goddard, Abdullah, Biblical mysticism |
| How It Works | Your vibrational frequency attracts matching experiences from the universe | Your assumptions about reality project outward and create your experience |
| Role of the Universe | An external, responsive force that delivers based on your vibration | A projection of your own consciousness; there is no separate external force |
| Primary Tool | Emotional alignment and vibrational matching | Imagination and assumption of the wish fulfilled |
| Emotional Requirement | You must feel good and match the vibration of your desire | You must assume the state; surface emotions matter less than inner knowing |
| View of Negative Emotions | Signals that you are out of alignment; should be pivoted away from | Natural human experiences that do not prevent manifestation if the assumption holds |
| Handling Doubt | Doubt lowers your vibration and blocks manifestation | Doubt is an old assumption; persist in the new one and it fades |
| Speed of Results | Varies; depends on vibrational consistency | Varies; depends on depth of assumption and persistence |
| Key Phrase | "Ask, believe, receive" | "Assume the feeling of the wish fulfilled" |
Where These Two Laws Agree
Despite their different frameworks, these two systems share significant common ground.
Both Emphasize Inner States Over External Action
Neither system tells you to simply take physical action and hope for the best. Both agree that your internal world plays the primary role in shaping what you experience externally. Action matters, but it is secondary to your inner state.
Both Use Visualization and Require Persistence
Whether you are doing a law of attraction guided meditation or a Neville-style SATS session, you are engaging your imagination to experience a desired scene as though it is real. Some practitioners deepen their visualization work by meditating with crystals to heighten their focus. Both systems also demand consistent daily practice. You must return to the feeling and the assumption again and again until the desired state becomes your new normal.
Both Honor the Subconscious Mind
The law of attraction talks about your "point of attraction," largely set by subconscious beliefs. The law of assumption teaches that your assumptions, most running in the background, create your reality. Both acknowledge that real change happens when you reprogram the deeper layers of your psyche. Exploring your numerology life path can reveal unconscious patterns that both systems ask you to address.
Where These Two Laws Disagree
The disagreements between the law of attraction and the law of assumption may seem philosophical at first, but they have real consequences for how you practice and how you interpret your experiences.
The Nature of Reality
The law of attraction positions you within a larger universe that responds to your vibration. The law of assumption removes that separation entirely: there is only consciousness, and you are the operant power. This changes your relationship with setbacks. In the law of attraction, a bad day means your vibration dropped. In the law of assumption, a bad day is just the old state playing out and does not define what is coming next.
The Role of Emotions
The law of attraction places strong emphasis on maintaining positive emotions. If you feel bad, you need to feel better before you can expect results. The law of assumption is more relaxed about surface emotions. A practitioner might have a terrible morning and still affirm, "My assumption stands." The priority is deep inner knowing, not the emotional weather on top. For empaths who absorb emotions from others, this distinction can be freeing.
External Validation vs Inner Authority
The law of attraction encourages looking for signs that your manifestation is on its way. Repeating numbers like 222 or 11 and moments of serendipity are interpreted as signals from the universe. The law of assumption teaches the opposite: you should not need the outer world to validate your inner state. If you need a sign to believe, then you have not truly assumed. Looking for signs can undermine the assumption by implying the wish is not yet fulfilled.
The Bridge Concept: States of Being
Both the law of attraction and the law of assumption use the concept of "states," though they define them differently. In the law of attraction, your state is your vibrational frequency, measured by your emotions. In the law of assumption, your state is the set of assumptions you hold about who you are and what is true. Neville described states as "attitudes of mind" that you can enter and exit like rooms in a house. Abraham Hicks describes states as positions on an "emotional scale" ranging from despair at the bottom to joy at the top. In both systems, changing your state is the path to changing your reality. The difference is whether that change happens through emotional management or through assumption and persistence.
How to Practice the Law of Attraction: Step by Step
If the law of attraction resonates with you, here is a structured approach based on the core teachings from Abraham Hicks and "The Secret."
Step 1: Get clear on what you want. Write a detailed description of your desire. Be specific about what it looks like, feels like, and why you want it.
Step 2: Visualize daily. Spend 5 to 15 minutes each day imagining your desire as already real. Engage all your senses and feel the emotions. Combining this with meditation or prayer can deepen the experience.
Step 3: Raise your vibration. Use gratitude lists, uplifting music, time in nature, or any activity that genuinely makes you feel good throughout the day.
Step 4: Release resistance. Resistance is any thought or belief that contradicts your desire. Techniques for releasing it include EFT tapping, journaling about limiting beliefs, and the "focus wheel" process taught by Abraham Hicks.
Step 5: Allow and receive. Let go of the "how" and "when." Trust that the universe is arranging the details. Take inspired action when opportunities appear.
Daily Law of Attraction Routine
Morning (10-15 minutes): Write 5 gratitude statements. Read your desire statement aloud. Visualize for 5 minutes while feeling the emotions of having your desire.
Midday (2-3 minutes): Check your emotional state. If you have drifted into worry or negativity, pause and reach for a better-feeling thought. Even a small shift upward on the emotional scale counts.
Evening (5-10 minutes): Write in your manifestation journal. Note any signs, synchronicities, or good feelings from the day. End with a statement of trust: "Everything is always working out for me."
How to Practice the Law of Assumption: Step by Step
If Neville Goddard's approach resonates with you, here is how to apply his teachings consistently.
Step 1: Define your desired end state. Go straight to the end. Identify a single scene that implies fulfillment. If you want a new job, your scene might be a friend congratulating you on your first week.
Step 2: Practice SATS nightly. As you lie in bed, relax completely. Once drowsy, play your short scene on a mental loop from first person. Let the scene repeat until you fall asleep inside the feeling of the wish fulfilled.
Step 3: Assume the new state during the day. When old thoughts surface, gently redirect: "No, it is done. I already have it." You do not need to force positive emotion. Just hold the assumption.
Step 4: Use revision for unwanted events. Replay any contradictory events in your mind, changing them to match what you would have preferred. This trains your subconscious to accept your revised version.
Step 5: Persist until the 3D conforms. The physical world may take time to catch up. Do not waver. The bridge of incidents is already being built. Your only job is to persist.
Common Mistakes in Each System
Both the law of attraction and the law of assumption have pitfalls that trip up beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Knowing these mistakes in advance can save you months of frustration.
Law of Attraction Mistakes
Toxic positivity. Forcing yourself to feel happy when you are genuinely hurting creates internal conflict. The law of attraction teaches reaching for a slightly better-feeling thought, not leaping from grief to joy. People experiencing spiritual awakening physical symptoms need to honor their process rather than paper over it with forced positivity.
Obsessing over vibration. Constantly monitoring whether you feel "high vibe enough" creates anxiety, which is itself a low vibration.
Waiting instead of living. Some practitioners put their lives on hold while waiting for delivery. The law of attraction works best when you are actively living and taking inspired action.
Law of Assumption Mistakes
Mental forcing. SATS should feel natural and relaxed, like daydreaming. If you are straining to hold your mental scene, you are working too hard.
Checking the 3D constantly. Checking for results is like digging up a seed each morning. The checking itself contradicts the assumption of fulfillment.
Denying real emotions. "Living in the end" does not mean pretending you have no feelings about your current situation. You can feel sad about where you are and still assume where you are going.
| Common Mistake | Law of Attraction Version | Law of Assumption Version |
|---|---|---|
| Emotional bypassing | Forcing positivity, suppressing grief or anger | Claiming "it is done" while completely ignoring inner turmoil |
| Obsessive monitoring | Constantly checking vibrational level | Constantly checking whether the 3D has changed |
| Passivity | Waiting for the universe to deliver without taking action | Refusing to take any action because "imagination creates reality" |
| Blaming yourself | "I attracted this bad thing because my vibration dropped" | "I created this bad thing because of an old assumption" |
| Perfectionism | Believing you must feel perfect joy before manifesting | Believing your SATS scene must be perfectly vivid to work |
Which Method Is Right for You?
There is no universally correct answer to the law of attraction vs law of assumption question. The best system is the one that fits your temperament, addresses your specific challenges, and produces results in your life. Here are some guidelines to help you decide.
The Law of Attraction May Be Better for You If:
You are new to manifestation and want an accessible entry point. The "ask, believe, receive" formula is easy to understand, and the emphasis on feeling good makes the practice immediately rewarding. If you enjoy working with external spiritual tools, angel numbers, crystals, and synchronicities, the law of attraction community embraces all of these. Practices like opening your third eye can complement your work by expanding intuitive awareness.
The Law of Assumption May Be Better for You If:
You want full authority over your reality without depending on an external force. The law of assumption puts you in the driver's seat entirely. If being told to "just feel good" during real hardship feels dismissive, the law of assumption offers relief. It asks for assumption and persistence, not emotional perfection. If you are drawn to mystical study, Neville's teachings connect deeply with esoteric scripture and the mechanics of reality creation.
Finding Your Own Path Between the Laws
The most effective manifestation practitioners are not dogmatic about any single system. They borrow what works and discard what does not. You might use law of attraction gratitude practices in the morning, law of assumption SATS at night, and a combination of both throughout the day. The goal is not ideological purity. The goal is results.
If something stops working, try the other approach. If both work, use both. Your manifestation practice is a personal toolkit, not a religion. Give yourself permission to experiment, adapt, and grow.
Combining Both Systems: A Practical Framework
Many successful practitioners use a hybrid approach. Here is a practical framework.
Morning: Law of Attraction foundation. Start with gratitude journaling and a short visualization while focusing on positive feelings. This sets your emotional tone for the day.
Throughout the day: Law of Assumption persistence. Hold the assumption that your desire is already fulfilled. When contradictory thoughts arise, gently return to the assumption.
Evening: Neville's SATS technique. Before sleep, enter the drowsy state and loop your mental scene implying fulfillment. Fall asleep in the feeling of the wish fulfilled.
Weekly: Revision and recalibration. Review any contradictory events and mentally revise them. If you spent multiple days in low-vibration states, use gratitude practices to recalibrate.
What the Research Says About Mental Rehearsal and Belief
While neither system has been tested as a whole in controlled studies, the individual components they rely on have significant research support.
Visualization and performance. Research published in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that mental rehearsal activated the same neural pathways as physical practice. Athletes combining mental and physical training outperformed those who trained only physically.
Belief and the placebo effect. The placebo effect demonstrates that belief alone produces measurable physical changes. Both systems work with this same mechanism through vibrational belief or assumed fulfillment.
Self-fulfilling prophecy. Robert Merton's research showed that a belief, held with conviction, triggers behaviors that make it come true. This directly supports the law of assumption's emphasis on the creative power of assumptions.
Written goal-setting. Dr. Gail Matthews found that writing down goals increased achievement rates by 42%. This supports both systems' journaling practices. See our manifestation journal guide for templates that work with either method.
Your Manifestation Practice Starts Now
Whether you resonate more with the vibrational framework of the law of attraction or the consciousness-based model of the law of assumption, the single most important step is to begin. Pick one system, practice it consistently for 30 days, and observe what shifts in your inner world and your outer experience.
The fact that you are reading this comparison means you are already thinking carefully about how to direct the creative power of your mind. That awareness is itself the first step toward intentional reality creation. Trust yourself. Assume the best. And start today.
Ready to deepen your practice? Explore our manifestation journal guide for daily templates and techniques that work with both systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between the law of attraction and the law of assumption?
The law of attraction teaches that your vibrational frequency attracts matching experiences from an external universe. The law of assumption teaches that your inner assumptions create your reality from within, with no need for an external force to respond. The law of attraction asks you to align your vibration. The law of assumption asks you to change your assumption and persist.
Is the law of assumption more powerful than the law of attraction?
Neither is inherently more powerful. Effectiveness depends on how consistently you practice and how well the framework fits your personality. Some people get faster results with the law of assumption because it removes the pressure to maintain positive emotions at all times. Others thrive with the law of attraction because its emphasis on feeling good creates immediate improvements in daily well-being.
Can I use the law of attraction and the law of assumption together?
Yes. Many practitioners combine both systems effectively. A common approach is to use law of attraction techniques like gratitude and visualization during the day while using law of assumption techniques like SATS and revision at night. The two systems complement each other more than they conflict.
Who is Neville Goddard and why is he important?
Neville Goddard (1905-1972) was a Barbadian-American mystic and the primary teacher of the law of assumption. His works, including "Feeling is the Secret" and "The Power of Awareness," laid out a complete system for creating reality through imagination. His teachings have experienced a major revival through social media.
What is SATS and how do I do it?
SATS stands for State Akin To Sleep. You lie in bed, relax until you reach the drowsy state just before sleep, then mentally loop a short scene implying your desire is fulfilled. See the scene from first person, engage your senses, and repeat until you drift off inside that feeling.
Does the law of attraction really work?
The law of attraction as a complete metaphysical system has not been tested in controlled scientific experiments. However, the individual practices it promotes, such as visualization, gratitude, positive expectation, and written goal-setting, have strong research support for improving outcomes and well-being. Many practitioners report meaningful results from consistent practice.
Why do some people prefer the law of assumption over the law of attraction?
Common reasons include frustration with the pressure of always needing to "feel good," a preference for full creative authority over depending on an external universe, and appreciation for Neville Goddard's philosophical depth. It also appeals to people who have experienced trauma, because it does not require overcoming negative emotions before manifesting.
How long does it take for the law of attraction or law of assumption to work?
There is no fixed timeline. Some practitioners report results within days, while others work for weeks or months. Speed depends on consistency of vibrational alignment (law of attraction) or depth of assumption and persistence (law of assumption). Both agree that quality and consistency of practice matter more than timelines.
Do I need to believe 100% for manifestation to work?
Not necessarily. The law of assumption teaches that persistence carries you through doubt. The law of attraction suggests reaching for the best-feeling thought you can access. In both systems, building belief gradually through small wins is a valid path.
What role does action play in the law of attraction and law of assumption?
Both systems teach that action should be inspired rather than forced. In the law of attraction, inspired action flows naturally from vibrational alignment. In the law of assumption, Neville taught that once you assume the new state, you will naturally take the steps that bring it about.
Sources
- Goddard, Neville. "Feeling Is the Secret." 1944. Reprinted by Merchant Books, 2016.
- Goddard, Neville. "The Power of Awareness." 1952. Reprinted by Penguin, 2012.
- Hicks, Esther and Jerry. "Ask and It Is Given: Learning to Manifest Your Desires." Hay House, 2004.
- Byrne, Rhonda. "The Secret." Atria Books, 2006.
- Matthews, Gail. "Goals Research Summary." Dominican University of California, 2015.
- Merton, Robert K. "The Self-Fulfilling Prophecy." The Antioch Review, Vol. 8, No. 2, 1948.
- Ranganathan, Vinoth K. et al. "From Mental Power to Muscle Power: Gaining Strength by Using the Mind." Neuropsychologia, 2004.
- Murphy, Joseph. "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind." Prentice Hall, 1963.